Web supplying mechanism for printing machines



WEB SUPPLYING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Shee 1 w. C. WIEKING April 4, 1950 Filed Nov. 22, 1944 1 a; 6 U %Z;Z m a W? m6 w MW m J r \w AW ww fi v v a A a, 9 a w a Q v w a a April 4, 1950 I w. c. IWIEKING WEB SUPPILYING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 22, 1944 ATTO NEY April 4, 1950 w. c. WIEKING was SUPPLYING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 22, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 w m i M ggam in Q g m 5 5 m f? w M 0 ....3w o r a w. w E 6* w v. j Z w, n L Q w M w i w e |\.|1|.! v|||||| 7 w I WNx N: a 2 4 L w w, #RR a V, a 5 a .M 3 z m: g 255 .vdl/ W 0F f l W E 09/ j M mm dMfi Emm /h INVENTOR PahmodApnfllm wuss 7 2.502.: was screams Macmmisu ron ram'rmo MACHINES William C. Wieking Woodhaven, N. Y., llllm to R. Hoe 85 Co., Inc.

poration of New York New York, N. Y a cor- Application November 22, 1944, Serial No. 504,014

This invention relates to web supply mechanisms for machines such as printing machines that operate on a web fed from a web roll, and

Claims. (Cl. 242-75) has particular application to mechanism for use with high speed rotary printing machines used for printing newspapers and similar products.

In operating a high speed web printin machine, it is desirable to replace an expiring web roll with a new roll while the machine is operating at full printing speed, and meanwhile to maintain tension on the web being fed, at a substantially constant value. The invention herein shown is applied to a structure similar to that' disclosed in Lundquist et al. Patent No. 2,155,430, granted April 25, 1939, and in combination therewith provides automatic web tension controlling mechanism that operates to maintain substantially constant tension on a web being fed from a web roll in normal feeding position, and also when the roll approaches exhaustion and is moved into an expiring position to be replaced by a new roll. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved means for controlling the tension of a web fed to a printing machine from new web rolls carried on a support that is rotated to bring rolls successively into the web feeding position, and in which the support is provided with a separate brake for each web roll, and these separate brakes are successively brought into ac-v tion to automatically control the web tension during the period immediately precedin the replacement of one web roll by another web roll.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method of successively operating and automatically controlling a plurality of brakes carried by a rotatable web roll support. With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear in the following description, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a web feeding mechanism to which the invention is applied, as seen from one side of the device;

Figure 5 is a view showing the association of various control switches and other devices, with the mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a schematic electrical diagram showing the switches and the connections employed in controlling the web roll supply mechanism;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view showing some of the major components of the web supply mechanism in the normal web feeding position;

Figure 8 is a viewshowing the mechanism in a position intermediate of that shown in Figures 7' and 9;

Figure 9 is a view showing one of the web rolls in the web splicing position and one of the rolls in the expiring position;

Figure 10 is a view showing the mechanism immediately after the web from the expiring roll has been spliced to the web of the replacement roll;

Figur 11 shows a modified form of portions of the mechanism shown in Figures 1 to 10;

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken along the line l2--l2 of Figure 11 looking in the direction r of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is shown in Figures 1 to 10 as applied to a web roll reel capable of moving replacement web rolls from a loading position, to a web splicin position, to a feeding position, and then to an expiring position. The reference character ll indicates a frame member of a printing machine, to which webs are fed from web rolls.

Additional members (not shown) support the usual printing cylinders, web guide rollers l2 and other devices. A web roll support or reel l3 includes a pair of spiders |3a for carrying a plurality of web rolls, the spiders being secured to a shaft II which is rotatably supported by a pair of pedestals, one of which is shown at ii. A motor it (Figure 5) is, arranged to rotate the reel in either direction and arms I! support the Figure 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of. the

web rolls on rotatable cones in a conventional,

manner. In Figures 1, 5, and 8 to 10, a first web roll I! is shown in an idle position, and a second web roll l9, which will hereinafter be referred to as the replacement web roll, is shown mounted on the reel and in or approaching the splicing position. In Figures 1, 5, 7, 8 and 9, a third web roll 2|, which will hereinafter be referred to as the expiring web. roll, is shown in various positions from the feeding position (Figure 7) to the expiring position (Figure 9), and has a web 22 running therefrom.

Means is provided for regulating the tension oi the running web by either a main braking mechanism which applies braking pressure to the surface of the web roll, or by an auxiliary braking mechanism which applies a brake at the core of the roll. 7

The main braking mechanism, which is similar to that shown in Patent 2,155,430, includes endless running belts 23, pulleys 24 and 25, and a third pulley 28 having a movable axis 21. A suitable drive indicated at 28 is provided for the drive pulley 24 and operates the belts at a speed slightly slower than the speed of the running web, thus providing a constant braking action on the surface of the web roll. A shaft 29 rotatably supporting the pulley has arms 3| fixed thereto that are arranged to mount the movable pulley 28 at their extreme ends. While the endless belt mounting is set forth in the singular, it is to be understood that more than one belt is generally used.

A motor 32 connected to the power circuit L4, L5, and LG by reversing contactors MB and LB (Figure 6) is provided with a reduction gear 34, and a bevel pinion 35 for lowering or raising the belt arms 3|. The pinion 35 meshes with a bevel gear segment 36 fixed on the shaft 29, and when the motor is energized, the gear segment will be partially rotated in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction and thereby rotate the shaft 29 and swing the arms 3|. Thus, the braking pressure of the belts is varied by raising and lowering the arm 3|. A cam (Figure 5) on the segment opens a normally-closed belt-arm up limit" switch 48' when the belt arms 3i are raised to their upper limit.

A web tension controlling means in the form of a floating roller 31 (Figure 5) is supported in a loop in the running web 22 and changes its position when the web tension is increased or de-,

creased. The floating roller is rotatably held in pivotally supported arms 38, secured to an arm 39 carrying a cam 4i arranged to operate a more tension switch 43 and a less tension switch 44 in a manner well known in the art. When the tension on the running web increases, the floating roller 31 will rise and close the less tension" switch 44, and when the tension is decreased, the floating roller will descend and close the more tension switch 43. Although not shown, it will be understood that either the cam 41 or the switches 43 and 44 will be adjustable to regulate the amount of tension applied by the belt 23. Solenoids 45 and 46 (Figure 6), operate the beltarm raising and lowering contactors LB and MB, the function of which will be described hereinafter.

A limit switch 49 is carried by the arm 3| and is operated by a lever 5i hinged to the arm 3|, the lever 51 contacting the inner surface of the belt 23 when the arm 3i reaches its lowermost position. It will be understood that a limit switch 49 is used with each belt employed.

An auxiliary or spindle braking mechanism, that is capable of supplying braking at the core of the web roll, comprises mechanism herein shown mounted on the arms I! of one of the spiders I3a. Each of these spiders (Figures 1 and 2) has a hub extension 52 concentric with the main shaft H on which is rotatably mounted a combined cam 53 and sprocket wheel 54. On the same hub and outside of the sprocket wheel 54, a ring 55 is loosely held by a plurality of washers 56 and bolts 51 screw threaded into the hub 52. The ring 55 is held against rotation by links 58 pivotally fastened to the pedestal I5 and to the 4 ring. The ring 55 supports a timer switch ll (Figure 5) and a limit switch 58 (Figure 1), the latter being operated by an auxiliary cam 8| carried by the sprocket wheel 54. As hereinafter described, the limit switch 58 and the cam ll coopclate to stop the cam 53 in a reset" position. A bracket 62 (Figure l) is secured to a lower portion of the ring 55 by bolts 53. A motor 84 with a speed reduction gear (Figures 1 and 2) is connected to the power circuit L4, L5, and LG by reversing contactors MC and LC (Figure 6), and is mounted 'on a lower portion of the bracket 52 by the bolts 55 (Figure 1). The output shaft 55 of the speed reducer carries a drive sprocket 61 for driving a chain 68 that in turn drives the hereinbefore mentioned sprocket 54 and cam 53. The

Y cam 53 is formed with a lower portion as indicated iii at 69 and progressively increases in height in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Figure 1 to a high portion indicated at H.

Solenoids I2 and 13 (Figure 6), actuate the motor contactors LC and MC and thus control the motor 64 (Figure 1) and operate the cam 53, when energized by either of a pair of switches 14 or 15 (Figures 5 and 6) that are operated by a cam 16a secured to an arm 15bthat is operated by a spring biased floating roller 15. If the tension of the running web increases beyond a predetermined amount, the roller IE will operate the cam 15a to close the switch 15 and energize the solenoid 12; or if the web tension decreases the roller 15 will operate the cam 'IGato close the switch 14 and energize the solenoid 13, thus decreasing or increasing the tension of the web as required.

Although not shown, it will be understood that either the cam 15a or the switches 14 and 15 will be adjustable to regulate the amount of tension applied by a brake 11 Each of the arms ll of one of the spiders I3a carries a spindle brake mechanism 11 arranged to apply a brake to the core of a, web roll when it is in the feeding position, the expiring position, or in any position therebetween.

Each brake mechanism H, a herein shown, comprises a brake band 11b (Figure 4) cooperating with a brake wheel 80. One end of the brake band is pivotally secured to an arm '18 of a rocking lever 19, and the other end of the brake band 111) is adjustably secured to an end of two spaced links 8| by means of the pin 8Ia, threaded bolt 82, and nuts 83. The lever 19 is pivotally secured to the reel arm I! by means of a stud 84. A short arm 85 of the lever I9 (Figure 4a) is connected by a pin 85a to a bifurcated portion of a handle Hill. The other ends of the links 8| are secured by a pin 8Ib to an intermediate portion of the bifurcated handle I80. The lever 19 is rocked about the stud 84 by an operating rod 88 connected to an arm 81 at 88. By manually moving the handle I toward the left in Figure 4, the brake 11 can be completely released. This is usually done when placing a new web roll in the support, and the brake 11 remains released until the roll in feeding position approaches exhaustion. A spring pressed rod 89, supported from a bracket 9| secured to the arm 11 is connected to the arm 81 at 92, and biases the lever 19 in a clockwise direction. The lower end of the operating rod 86 has a hollow portion 93 (Figure 3), and a collar 94 that is arranged to extend into and abut against a spring 95. Extending inside the hollow portion of the rod 86 and also inside the spring 95, is a second rod 98, having a collar 91 for engaging the spring 95.

a ass The outer end 01' the second rod 55 is adjustably secured to one end of an arm 93 having a slotted hole 53 (Figure l) and the other end of the arm 54 is pivotally secured to the reel arm I1 by a stud Itl. A second arm I02, is also plvotally mounted on the stud IOI, and is formed integral with the arm 95. The arm III2 carries a cam roller I03 for engaging the cam 53. The cam 53. roller I03, rod 35 and 55. and the brake band 11b, together with the other parts of the braking mechanism, are thus so located that braking force may be applied to a web roll located either in the feeding position, or the expiring position, or anywhere between these positions, and by turning the cam 53 to present either a higher portion or a lower portion to the roller I03, the.

braking force may be regulated. When the cam 53 is rotated clockwise so as to present a higher portion of the cam to the roller I03, the braking force is increased. As the roll and the brake move from the running position to the expiring position, the cam 53, under control of the roller and the motor 64, is automatically rotated counter-clockwise to apply the proper pressure to the brake and thus maintain a constant tension on the web 22. As the tension in the web varies, the cam is moved clockwise or counterclockwise to regulate the pressure as required.

Twin splicing arms similar to those shown in Horton Patent No. 2,182,760, are indicated generally by the reference character I34, and comprise a pair of brush supporting arms I05 carried on a shaft, and a pair of knife supporting arms I 06 carried by a sleeve, all of which are movable about the same axis I01. A beam is secured between the pair of brush arms, and brushes I08 are mounted on the beam. The pair of cutter arms support a web deflector and cutter sheath I09, secured between their outer ends. The two structures are normally joined together, in a manner similar to that shown in Patent 2,182,760, by a latch having a hook II2 (Figure 5) secured to the knife supporting arm, and a pin H3 secured to the brush supporting arm. The latch mechanism has a solenoid M5 for releasing the latch when the solenoid coil is energized.

Since the two parts of the twin structure are normally latched together, they will move in unison when lowered from the non-operating position shown in Figure 5 to the operating position shown in Figure 1. Counter balance and 0perating spring members, which are fully described and illustrated in the patents hereinbefore mentioned, control the movement of the arms.

An operating handle I I6 pivotally supported at I I1 has an arm I I8, the outer end of which is connected by a chain II9 to the brush s pporting arm I05. When the splicing arms I04 are lowered, the operating handle II 6 is automatically lowered into an operating position. When the handle H6 is lowered, a cam member I2I will open a switch I22. A second cam member I23, also associated with the operating handle I's, closes a switch I24 when the handle H6 is operated to its fully down position in a manner hereinafter described. An auxiliary cam arm I25 associated with the splicing arms I04 is arranged to open two switches I26 and I21 when the splicing arm are moved to the lowered position, and to allow these switches to close when the arms are raised.

The motor I6 (Figure 5) which rotates the reel I3 by means of a worm I28, and a worm wheel I23, is electrically connected to the pair the contacts of the switch of reversing contactors l! and R. (Figure. 6) that have operating solenoids III and I22. The contactor 1'' will operate the motor I4 to turn the reel II in a forward or counter-clockwise direction, while the contactor R will operate to turn it in a reverse direction.

Each arm H of one reel spider I311 is equipped with an operating rod I35 similar to that shown in Patent 2,141,137, for engaging a cam surface I35 carried by one of the spindles that support each web roll. The other end of the operating rod I35 is provided with a shoe I31 for closing 55 at a certain point in each revolution of the web roll I9. In addi tion to the electrical contactors and switches previously described, the web supply mechanism includes solenoid operated relays I35 and HI, which are operated from the main controller for the printing machine. The relay I39 is actuated when the machine is being driven at a slow, or web threading speed, and the relay I is actuated when the machine is being driven at any regular running speed. The solenoid I33 (Figure 6) operates a pair of switches I43 and I44, and the solenoid I4I operates switches I45, I45 and I41. An impulse switch I49 is driven by a motor I48 (shown diagrammatically in Figure 6), that through a cam I50 opens and closes the switch I49 at a predetermined rate. By this mechanism the motors 32 and 64 are energized intermittently, so the braking action of the belt 23 and the band 11 is increased or diminished gradually.

An automatic reel rotation relay comprises a solenoid I5I and a switch I52. A first control relay comprises a solenoid I53 and four switches I54, I55, I55 and I51. A belt raising relay comprises a solenoid I59, and switches IGI, I52, I 63 and I84. A second control relay comprises a solenoid I65 and switches I66 and I61. A splic ing relay comprises a solenoid I68, and switches I69, HI and I12. A transfer relay comprises a solenoid I13 and switches I14 and I15. An auxiliary reset relay comprises a solenoid I16 and switches I11 and m. A number of push-button stations are shown and include a start-stop push-button comprising a start switch I8I and a stop" switch I82, a forward push button comprises switches E83, and I84, a reverse pushbutton comprises a switch I; a "reset pushbutton comprises switches I86 and I81; a beltup push-button station comprises switches I88 and I89; and a belt-down? push-button comprises switches I9I and I92.

A manually operated switch I93 is provided, which when opened, prevents automatic operation of the tension control mechanism, but permits manual control.

If it is assumed that the printing machine, to which the web 22 is being fed, is operating at full speed, the solenoid I 4I will be energized and its switches I45, I46 and I41 will be closed, or if operating at web threading speed, the solenoid I39 will be energized and its switches I43 and I44 will be closed. The reel I3 will support the roll 2| in the feeding position as shown in Figure 7 with the belt 23 pressing against the sur-. face of the roll. Since the arms 3I are lowered, the solenoid I 53 will be energized through the switch 40. At this time the tension on the web 22 will be governed by the belt 23 under the control of the switches 43 and 44, operated by the floating roller 31. During this period of normal web feeding, all of the auxiliary brakes 11 operated by the cam 53 will be released by the I handles Ill being moved toward the left as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 and the cam II will have been reset to a position anticipating the application of a small amount of braking to the core of the roll in the i'eeding position.

When the running roll 2| (Figure 'l) nears exhaustion, and it becomes desirable to transfer the web feed from the feeding web roll 2I to the replacement web roll II, the handle I" on the arm II carrying the roll 2I will be moved counter-clockwise to the right as shown in Figure 4, to eiiect application of the brake ll. This brake is so adjusted that when it is thus applied, it will tend to cause a relatively light retarding action on the rotation of the roll, and increase the tension on the running web, but as the brake is applied, the belt 22 will be automatically raised and the tension on the running web will remain substantially constant. When the web feed is to be changed to the replacement roll II, the start button switch III (Figure 6) will be manually closed. This raises the belt 22 by energizing the solenoid I" (Figure 6) by a circuit extending from a line LI through switch I22, conductor 2, solenoid I", switch I", and the "start" push-button switch III, to line L2. Energizing the solenoid It! closes the switch Ill to energize the solenoid 45 by way of a circuit which extends from the line LI, through the switch III, switch I", and through the solenoid II, to the line L2. This closes the motor contactor LB and operates the motor 32 to raise the belt 28 to the position shown in Figure 8.

Closing the "start button I OI (Figure 6) also energizes the solenoid ISI of the reel rotation relay by a circuit that extends from the line Ll, through the switch I22, a branch of the conductor 2, switch 2I0, solenoid IiI, conductor 2I2, and through the "start" button III, to the line L2. This relay is maintained by a circuit which includes the switch I52, a conductor 2Il and the stop" push-button switch I22. The switch I82 controls a maintaining circuit for the solenoid III.

Energizing the solenoid II! by the push-button switch IBI also causes the cam operated brake on the arm supporting the running roll 2i (Figure 7) to become operative, as it closes the switch I82 (Figure 6) and energizes the solenoid Ill through a circuit from the line LI, through the manually-operated switch I93, a branch of the conductor 2", switch I46 (then closed), a conductor 2|, switch I62, and through the solenoid I" to the line L2. This solenoid I" is maintained by a circuit extending from line L--I through the manual switch I92, a branch of the conductor 2 II, switch I (then closed) conductor 2I5, "reset" push-button switch I", switch I'll, switch I, and through the solenoid I65 to line L2. Energizing the'solenoid I85 closes flie switch I61, thereby connecting Ll to the switches I4 and 15, which indirectly control the brakes 11. The circuit which accomplishes this may be traced from the line LI, through the manual switch I II, a branch of the conductor 2, impulse switch I", a conductor 2|, and through switch I61 (then closed) to either the "less tension switch I5, or the "more tension" switch ll, whichever happens to be closed. If the "less tension switch 15 is closed, the solenoid I2 will be energized to operate the motor 04 by closing the contactor LC to rotate the cam it (Figure l) to present a lower portion to the roller Ill and thereby apply less braking by the brake ll coals-oiling the web roll 2|. whereas i! 8 the more tension switch 14 is closed, the solenoid II will be energized to operate the motor N by closing the contactor MC to rotate the cam II to present a higher portion to the roller I" and thereby apply more braking on the web roll;

As the belt 23 is raised by operation of the start" button, the brake TI on roll 2I automatically becomes more eflective and by the time the belt leaves the surface of the roll 2|, control of the tension in the web running to the machine has been transferred from the belt 22 to the brake I'I.

When the belt arm II reaches its fully raised position, the switch 40 (Figures 5 and 8) will be opened, deenergizing the solenoid III and opening the switch I", thus deenergizing the solenoid II to stop the belt arms from further upward movement. The switch I" will also be open. the coil Ill deenergized, and the switch I closed, and with the "start" button Ill held closed, the solenoid III oi the forward contactor FFF oi the motor It will be closed, thus rotating the reel I3 counter-clockwise and moving the roll it toward the running web 22.

The circuit that energizes the solenoid ISI extends from line L-I, through a switch I22, a branch of the conductor 2I I, the solenoid III, a conductor 2II, switch I, switch I82, conductor 2I2, switch I52, conductor 2|! and through the push-button I82, to the line L2. When the roll is reaches the web splicing position (Figure 9), one of the cams 220 (Figure 5) on the spider Ila will operate the switch 2IIl, deenergizing the solenoid III (Figure 6), opening the switch I52, deenergizing the solenoid ISI, and thus stopping the rotation of the reel I3.

When the web from the roll 2| is nearly exhausted, the arms III! are lowered manually to the position shown in Figures 1 and 9, and the operating handle H6 is simultaneously lowered to the position shown by the dash lines in Figure 5. The interlockswitch I22 is thereby operated to interrupt the circuit to the solenoid III and I32 (Figure 6) and thereby prevent inadvertent operation of the reel rotation motor I. Simulta neously, the two interlock switches I28 and I2] are opened. The switch I26 opens the circuit to the solenoid Ill 0! the transfer relay, and the second switch I21 opens the circuit to the belt lowering solenoid 46, thus preventing automatic operation oi the belt arm in a direction which would apply braking to the periphery of the web roll II.

In order to cause the replacement roll to rotate at a peripheral speed nearly equal to the speed of the running web, the belt arm ll is lowered by manually closing ,the "down" push-button switch I82, which energizes the solenoid II, by a circuit from the line LI, through'the pushbutton switch I92, switch It, and through the solenoid 46 to the line L2. The solenoid ll closes the contactor MB, and the motor 32 operates to lower the belt arm 3 I After the replacement web roll has been rotating at web speed, for a few seconds, the handle II is pulled down to dotted line position in Figure 5, and the splicing switch I24 thus closed. While the handle II is held in this position, a circuit through the solenoid I" (Figure 6) is closed when the cam I28 closes the timer switch 59. The circuit may be traced from line LI, through the solenoid I68, splicing switch I24, and through the splicing timer 5! to the line L2. The first closure of the splicing timer I! energizes the solenoid I" which closes the switch "I, energizing the Splicing solenoid III through a circuit extending from the line L-I, through switch "I, and through the splicing solenoid III This releases the brush I88 to the line L-2. and the web from the roll II is pressed against the roll I9 (Figure 9) Simultaneously, the switch I12 energizes the solenoid I18 of the auxiliary reset relay, by a circuit which may be traced from line L-I (Figure 6), through the switch I12, and through the solenoid I16 to the line L2. The auxiliary reset relay is maintained by the closing of switch I11 which establishes a maintaining circuit from the line L-I, through the cam reset switch 68, circuit I11, and through the solenoid I16 to the line L--2. The second closing of the splicing timer 59 again energizes the splicing solenoid II which tihs time operates a knife blade held in the sheath I89, to sever the web 22 running from the expiring roll 2| (Figure Mechanism that may be employed for thus releasing the brush I08 and then releasing the solenoid I I5, is fully disclosed in Patent 2,182,760. As soon as the web splice has been made, the splicing arms I84 are manually raised to the position shown in Figure 10, and the interlock switches I22, I26 and I21 return to the positions shown in Figure 5, This return movement of the switch I26 "resets the cam 53 (Figure 1) so its low portion 69 is presented to the roller I03 on the arm carrying the roll- I9, by energizing the solenoid of the relay I13 (Figure 6) through a circuit from the line L--I, through the switch I69, switch I26, switch I18 (then closed), a conductor 2I8, and through the solenoid I13 to the line L2. This energizes the solenoid 13 of the cam operating contactor by a circuit which extends from line L-I through switches I69, I26, I18, and I14, a conductor 2I9, and through the solenoid 13 to line L'2. Energizing the solenoid 13 closes the contactor MC and causes the motor 64 to rotate the cam in a clockwise direction. Energizing the solenoid I13 also opens the switch I15 and prevents automatic operation of the brakes 11 by opening the maintaining circuit of the solenoid I65.

When the cam 53 reaches the reset position, it is stopped by switch 60 which is opened by engaging the cam 6| (Figure 1), deenergizing the solenoid I16 opening the switch I18, and deenergizing the solenoid I13, opening the switch I14, deenergizing the solenoid 13 and stopping the motor 64. e

The return movement of the switch I21 causes the control of the belt arm 3| to pass to the floating roller 31 which lowers the arm 3I and then automatically regulates the tension of the web running from the roll I9, by av circuit which may be traced from the line L-I (Figure 6), through the manual switch I93, a branch of the conductor 2I4, impulse switch I49, conductor 2I6, switch I45, conductor 22I, switches I41, I21, 43, and ,I51 push-button switch I9I, switch 49, and

through the solenoid 46 to the line L--2. It will be noted that the belt controlled tension has thus again become operative and regulates the tension of the web running from the roll I9 that now becomes the feeding roll and that the brakes 11 are inoperable. Pressing the push-button switch I85 will rotate the reel I3 in the clockwise or reverse direction and thus place the roll in the normal running position, as shown in Figure 7. K

The reel I3 may be rotated in a clockwise direc tion by manually closing the reverse push-button switch I85, or in a counter-clockwise direc- 10 tion by closing the forward push-button switch The modified form of the mechanism shown in Figures 11 and 12 is similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 10 except that a manual means for operating the auxiliary brake 11 is included. An arm 19a is equipped with an extension 23I, having a clearance hole through which a threaded stud 232 extends. one end of the stud being secured in a boss 233 on the arm I1. A knurled adjusting nut 234 is a screw threaded on the stud 232, which is provided with a shoulder 238 that prevents the nut from being completely unscrewed therefrom.

An arm 98:: and an arm I820 are separable 1 instead of being solidly joined as are the arms 98 and I82 of the previously illustrated embodiment.

A bracket 231, carried by the arm I1, rotatably supports a bolt IllIa (Figure 12) having a collar 244 formed as an intermediate portion of the bolt, and a nut 246 screw threaded and pinned to the left end thereof. When a winged nut 239, screw threaded to the right end of the bolt Illla is tightened, it secures the arms 98a and I82a to the bolt with the arm 98a abutting the right face of the collar 244. Positioned between the disc-like ends of the arm 98a and H121: and surrounding the bolt I8I is a compression spring 24 I The disc-like end of the arm Ill2a is provided with a pair of teeth 242, which when the nut 239 is tightened engage notches 243 formed in the disc-like ends of the arm 98:: to hold the two arms in proper relationship.

Under normal operating conditions the wing nut 239 will be tightened, to clamp the arm I824: to the arm 98a and the nut 234 will be unscrewed so as not to engage the arm 23I. If, in the case of a failure of either automatic tension controlling mechanism, it is desired to operate the brake 11 by hand, the wing nut 239 is loosened sufllclently to allow the spring 2 to disengage the teeth '242 from the notches 243, and the knurled nut 234 is tightened by hand until it engages the extension 23I. The brake 11 can thus be applied or released by tightening or loosening the nut 234.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the claims rather than to the foregoing description for an indication of the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A web supply mechanism comprising a first web tension controlling roller, a pair of switches operated by the said first roller, a reversible motor controlled by the pair of switches, a movable pulley carrying a running belt for applying braking to the periphery of the web roll and adjustable by the motor, a second web tension controlling roller, a second pair of switches operated by the said second roller, a second reversible motor controlled by the second switches, and a spindle brake for applying braking to the core of the we!) roll and controlled by the second reversible motor.

2. In a web supply mechanism for a machine operating on a web drawn from a web roll, a rotatable roll support adapted to move a web roll from a loading position to a splicing position, to a feeding position and to an expiring position, a braking mechanism associated with the roll 2,so2,ese

support for applying braking to the core of the web roll from feeding to expiring position and includingcam mechanism comprising a cam element carried by and rotatable with the roll support and a cooperating cam element rotatable about the rotary axis of the roll support and independently thereof, the cam elements being formed for regulating the braking force according to the relative angular positions of the two said cam elements within a restricted angular range which is of less extent than the angle between feeding and expiring positions, a motor for rotating the second said cam element, an angularly fixed support for the said motor, and control means responsive to variation in tension of the running web and to movement of the said roll support for operating the motor, to cause the said rotatable cam member to follow the rollv support in its rotation and to adjust its angular position with reference thereto for regulating the braking force applied to the web roll in accordance with the tension of the web.

3. Web supply mechanism according to claim 2, on which the rotatable roll support comprises a roll supporting member which is slidably adjustable for accommodating web rolls of different widths and which carries the first said cam element, and the motor support is also siidabie to maintain its position relative to the siidabie roll supporting member.

4. Web -supply mechanism according to claim 2, comprising also a limit switch, and operating means therefor attached to the rotatable cam element, for resetting the rotatable cam element in a predetermined position, relative to a roll in feeding position, following each splicing operation.

5. In a web supply mechanism for a machine operating upon a web running from a web roll and including a web roll support adapted to move a replacement roll from a loading position to a splicing position, to a feeding position and to an expiring position; a first braking mechanism governed by a first floating roller held in a loop of the running web and adapted to apply braking force to the surface of a web roll in the feeding position, a second braking mechanism governed by a second floating roller held in a loop of the running web and adapted to apply braking force to the web roll in any position from the feeding position to and including the expiring position, and means to make the first floating roller ineffective and the second floating roller effective when a web splice is about to be made.

6. In a web supply mechanism for a machine operating upon a web running from a web roll and including a web roll support adapted to move a replacement roll from a loading position to a splicing position, to a feeding position and to an expiring positon; a normally active braking mechanism adapted to apply braking force to the surface of a web roll in the feeding position, and a normally inactive braking mechanism adapted to apply braking force to the web roll in any position from the feeding position to and including an expiring position; means for moving said roll support, and common control means for simultaneously energizing the last said means and activating the normally inactive braking mechanism.

7. In a web supply mechanism for a machine operating upon a web running from a web roll and including a web roll support adapted to move a replacement roll from a loading position to a splicing position, to a feeding position and to an expiring position; a first braking mechanism governed by a first floating roller held in a loop of the running web and adapted to appl braking force to the surface of a web roll in the feeding position. a second braking mechanism governed by a second floating roller held in a loop of the running web and adapted to apply braking force to the web roll in any position from the feeding position to and including the expiring position, means to make the first floating roller ineffective and the second floating roller eflective when a web splice is about to be made, and means to again make the first floating roller effective after the splice has been made.

8. In a web supply mechanism for a machine operating upon a web running from a web roll and including a web roll support adapted to move a replacement roll from a loading position to a splicing position, to a feeding position and to an expiring position, a normally active braking mechanism adapted to apply braking force to the surface of a web roll in the feeding position, and a normally inactive braking mechanism adapted to apply braking force to the web roll in any position from the feeding position to and including an expiring position; means operable while a roll is in feeding position for rendering said normally active braking mechanism inactive, and common control means for simultaneously energizing the last said means and activating the normally inactive braking mechanism.

9. Web supply mechanism according to claim 8, comprising also splicing mechanism and means operable by movement thereof for making the first mentioned braking mechanism again active and the second mentioned braking mechanism again inactive after a splice has been made.

10. In a web supply for a machine operating upon a web running from a web roll and including a rotatable web roll support adapted to carry a plurality of rolls and move the same successively from a loading position, to a splicing position, to a feeding position and to an expiring position, a normally active braking mechanism adapted to apply braking force to the surface of a web roll in the feeding position, normally inactive spindle brakes carried by the rotatable web roll support, one such spindle brake being provided for each of the plurality of rolls, a normally inactive common actuating mechanism for said spindle brakes operable to apply braking force to a selected brake and rotatable about the roll support axis for maintaining a fixed angular relation to the selected brake while a roll controlled thereby is in feeding position, during its movement to expiring position and in its expiring position, a floating roller tension control responsive to variation in tension of the running web for controlling the spindle brake actuating mechanism, means for gradually rendering the normally active roll surface braking mechanism inactive, and means operable simultaneously therewith for activating the spindle brake actuating mechanism, whereby a spindle brake may automatically take over control of a roll, as the normally active surface braking mechanism becomes inactive, and maintain such control as the roll is moved from feeding position to expiring position.

WILLIAM C. WIEKING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

(References on following page) Number 13 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Scott May 22. 1928 Fankboner Feb. 12, 1985 Smith Mar. 26, 1935 5 Horton Dec. 20, 1938 Lundquist et a1. Apr. 25, 1939 Horton Dec. 5, 1939 Number Number Name Date Horton Feb, 18, 1940 Dietrich Dec. 19, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain cat. 6, 1933 Great Britain Sept. 26, 1934 

